Stories by Shelby Hawkins

Cook County has its first new chief judge in more than two decades after Charles Beach was sworn in to the position earlier this month.

The family of Chicago police Officer Krystal Rivera, who was fatally shot in the line of duty this year by a fellow officer, says the shooting came after she broke off a romantic relationship with her partner.

The president has urged GOP-led states to gerrymander their U.S. house districts ahead of the midterms to create more winnable seats for Republicans. It’s an unusual move, since the district boundaries are usually adjusted based on the census every 10 year.

The Department of the Interior, which oversees national parks, announced recently it was unveiling “commemorative new designs” for park passes — one of which features Trump’s face alongside George Washington.

After a career spent largely in the shadows, Field Museum ornithologist Dave Willard is enjoying a moment in the spotlight for his contributions to conservation.

Senators rejected a Democratic bill to extend the subsidies for three years and a Republican alternative that would have created new health savings accounts — an unceremonious end to a monthslong effort by Democrats to prevent the COVID-19-era subsidies from expiring on Jan. 1.

Top military officials faced questioning over the deployments for the first time at the hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. They were pressed by Democrats over the legality of sending in troops, which in some places were done over the objections of mayors and governors.

The latest on the budget deadlock at City Hall. And tenants of the South Shore building raided by federal agents are being forced to move.

Judge Debra Ann Seaton denied a 60-day extension request saying “it would be inhumane for this court not to relocate people as quickly as possible,” citing gas leaks and plumbing issues. Many residents said they had nowhere to go.

The legislation was designed to favor GOP candidates in the next year’s midterms. Republicans control the state Senate, but many have been hesitant or openly opposed to the idea of mid-decade redistricting.

Over the objections of the mayor, the Chicago City Council agreed to meet Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Dec. 23 in an attempt to hammer out a deal over the $16.6 billion spending plan.

The number of fundraisers started to help cover essential expenses such as rent, utilities and groceries jumped 20%, according to the company’s 2025 review, after already quadrupling last year. “Monthly bills” were the second fastest-growing category behind individual support for nonprofits.

The FBI’s Chicago field office on Wednesday said it is seeking to identify other potential victims of 44-year-old Luis Uribe, who stands accused of robbing and/or sexually assaulting at least four women in Schaumburg and Naperville throughout 2022.

The Federal Reserve reduced its key interest rate for the third time in a row Wednesday but signaled that it may leave rates unchanged in the coming months.

Chicago Transit Board members on Wednesday acknowledged there’s work to be done to ensure trains and buses are as safe as possible, but took aim at a blistering letter sent earlier this week claiming the CTA has failed in its public safety mission.

The measure is the third attempt by Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) to expand the Chicago Police Department’s power in an attempt to deter teens from gathering in large numbers.

CPD officers have shot 22 people, killing nine, since the start of the year, records show. In 2024, CPD officers shot 12 people, killing six, records show.

Every Thursday, WTTW News newsletter producer Josh Terry highlights his picks for the week’s must-see cultural events.

Illinois’ consolidation of suburban police and fire pension funds is beginning to pay off, with records showing improved investment returns and significant cost savings for some local governments. While challenges remain, the overhaul has boosted funding levels and eased financial pressure on communities long burdened by rising pension obligations.

Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.

Is the third time a charm? Mayor Brandon Johnson unveils another budget proposal. And Geoffrey Baer shows us why Chicago is known as “the city that works.”

From how the United Center transforms its basketball court into an ice hockey rink to how holiday packages arrive at your front door, the WTTW special “Chicago Works” brings to the forefront the often unseen work that helps keep the city running.

According to a new study from Lincoln Park Zoo’s Urban Wildlife Institute, feral cats aren’t eating a lot of rats.

Federal prosecutors allege that Luis Uribe is a “serial rapist” who used his position in law enforcement to sexually assault and rob at least four women at gunpoint throughout 2022.

In March 2024, Gov. JB Pritzker announced the closure and rebuild of both Stateville and Logan correctional centers, allocating $900 million for the projects. The decision came after a state-commissioned report found that the two prisons accumulated more than $402 million in deferred maintenance costs.

The law, which takes effect immediately, also provides legal steps for people whose constitutional rights were violated during the federal enforcement action in the Chicago area, including $10,000 in damages for someone unlawfully arrested while attempting to attend a court proceeding.